Configuration that is shared by a group of hosts is stored in a host profile. You can create the host profile from your reference host. Configuration that differs for different hosts, such as a static IP address, can be managed through the answer file mechanism.

Auto Deploy provisions each host with a common host profile. In certain cases, Auto Deploy also uses a host-specific answer file that allows you to specify information that differs for different hosts. For example, if you set up a VMkernel port for vMotion or for storage, you can specify a static IP address for the port by using the answer file mechanism.

In this example, you create a host profile from the reference host, attach that host profile to the same host, and create an answer file for the reference host.